Flowers and Foie Gras

Hi Folks,
Sorry for the delay in getting this post up...we have been so busy doing stuff around London and gay Paris.

Let me see where did we leave off, oh yes we finally caught up with Maxine & Dorothy who arrived into london on 20 May after a 5 week cruise from Fremantle, and by all accounts they had a splendid time. Jim and I met up with them at the Bluebird restaurant on the Kings Road for a delicious lunch prepared by
top British chef Mark Broadbent. Fantastic food, delicious wines (and champers)and beautiful decor. Recommended. After hopping into a black cab we toddled on down to the Chelsea Flower Show, and boy was that a spectacle. The displays in the main pavilion were out of this world and the show gardens were pretty special too. However due to the huge crowds it was difficult to view the gardens properly. Still it was a splendid day out in all.

Wednesday saw us up at the crack of dawn for breakfast at Pret a Manger then a quick troll up the Mall and down to Westminster Abbey for a personal tour by the very lovely Chris Birch. The Abbey is an amazing place with more old queens than Connections on a Saturday night.


After our tour Chris treated Jim & I to Lunch at Balans in Soho. Thank you Chris! We spend the rest of the afternoon wandering around Soho, popping in to Black Market Records, the spiritual home of Drum & Bass. The evening was spent with Grant, Naseen and the kids who took us out to dinner at Wagamamas in Camden, a big thank you to them both. Star spotted Guy Berryman the bass player from Coldplay.


Early rise on Thursday morning to catch the EuroStar to Paris. The ride was as smooth as floating on a big cloud, nair a bump could be felt. After 2.5 hours we arrived into Paris feeling fresh and very excited. A quick 15min stroll found us at our hotel 'Le Petie Moulin' and very luxurious room overlooking Rue Pitou.
Since we have been here (for 3 days now) we have sampled some real French Food (no english on the menus so it takes a bit of work to order...hence the foie Gras, lightly seared goose livers with grapes...DELICIOUS). We have visited the Louvre, The Eiffel Tower (OMG the qeues were horrendous), a cruise on the Seine, walked The Golden Triangle (Ultra top shelf shopping)strolled hand n hand down the Champs-Elysees and thoroughly made the most of the very nice weather here. Off out soon for a bite to eat and a stroll somewhere window shopping. Another day and a half before we board the EuroStar back to London...over and out.

London

Hi folks, well here we are in Londons fair city and mighty fine it looks too. After a slight delay in the flight from Belfast we landed at Heathrow and took the express train into London Paddington, Fifteen pounds and 15 mins, and was a fabulous way to get into central London, recommended.

We are staying at 41b Brecknock Road, Kentish town which is one stop on the Northern Line from the hustle and bustle of Camden Town, famous for its huge alternative clothing markets. Our accommodation is five star (thank you Naseem & Grant).

(our) London Transport!

We have the use of this rather dinky electric car the 'G-Wizz' to nip about town. In certain local council areas we are exempt from parking costs and the dreaded congestion tax too. The City of Westminster have even provided a re-charging station slap bang in the heart of Covent Garden (the car only has a range of approx 30 miles). That turns a few heads when we arrive, pull out the extension cord and plug it in to a socket!

I took Jim out for a drive on Friday evening down to where I used to live in Kennington to visit my dear friend Linda Burns. Not haven driven in London for quite a few years our trip took us through, Euston, Marylebone, Oxford Circus, Picadilly Circus, Trafalger Sq, Whitehall, Parliament Sq, over Lambeth Bridge, Vauxall and on to Kennington. It was such a hoot, although Jim was a bit traumatised buy the BIG red buses what seemed to be only cms away. I loved it though and soon found that other drivers here are very courtious and the chaos just seems to work. The drive back in the dark was even more fun!. (Just how many Aston Martin V8 Vantages did we see..OMG it is my favourite car..ever).

Woof! A halarious street performer on the South Bank

Saturday we went into the West End for brunch at Pret a Manger, delicious granola porridge, breakfast in a bun and delicious coffee. This was followed by a walk across the new Hungerford footbridge, a stroll alond the revamped South Bank and along to the London Eye, however, THOUSANDS of others has the same idea. The que for tickets was massive as was the que to get on the Eye. So needless to say we are putting the London Eye back on the 'to do' list (maybe next week). In the afternoon we met up with a our gorgeous friend Eddie Stirling for a bit of shopping in the West End plus a trip to Vivienne Westwood's at Conduit St...OMG my poor old visa card will get a hammering there when I get down to the serious shopping business on return from Paris!

Last night we caught up with Eddie & Ollie, Christine, Jane and a few of their friends at Box Bar before jumping into a black cab and off to Arena nightclub at Vauxhall. We had a good nights dancing and carrying on before heading home at 5am..slept into 12.45 this glorious Sunday afternoon. Today we jumped into "beep beep chugga chugga little purple car" and drove up to Hampstead village where we had a roast dinner at the King William IV, Lovely food and a big glass of Aussie Red (nobody does red wines like us in Oz let me tell you!). Now back at base camp planning the next few days in London before we leave for Paris on Thursday....

Cherrio Ireland Hello London

Hi Folks, Now where have we been since our last post...let me see.

Ah men in leathers and the smell of racing fuel, no not the Cloherne but the North West 200 motorcycle race (practice session) in Portrush. Early dinner at the fabulous Ramore Wine Bar, which certainly lived up to its fantastic reputation followed by a hours or so of very noisy motorcycles flying around corners at impossible speeds. We unfortunately wouldn't be around for race day to see a Kiwi win all 3 major races!


Friday 11 May saw us on a bus from Derry City to Dublin for the weekend, staying at the salubrious 'Inn On The Liffy'. Most of the weekend was spent wandering the streets, drinking the best coffee since leaving Perth (business opportunity for a visiting barista to show them how to make a real coffee in NI)and eating..of course!. Dublin is looking good these days with lots of money being spent restoring the many magnificent buildings, some dating back to medieval times.
Anyone planning on a visit to Dublin should bring a very big bag of Euros as it is very very expensive.


Since we have returned to Derry on Sunday we have been catching up on some last minute sightseeing, Malin Head (which was stunning) and today Thurs we are en route to the Carrick-a-ree rope bridge, near the Giants Causway. Unfortunately the weather has resumed its Irish gown...ie grey, damp and gloomy. The countryside looks good for all the rain though. Tomorrow we leave for London.........


Ah! the Mighty, Mighty Undertones!

Peace in Our Time

Today, Tuesday 8th May 2007 marks an end to the ‘Troubles’ and a fresh start for all the people of Northern Ireland. Long may it last.

Well what a week its been for Jim & Monty travelling from Perth to Northern Ireland. All flights went to schedule, departed Perth Tues at 3.30pm and arrived into Belfast on Wed at 8am…20 hours flying time. Only one small hick-up, due to the very high level of security at UK airports (you have almost to strip down to your undies) our bags didn’t make it to Belfast for us to pick them up. (They were delivered via courier later that day).



Happy to report that all family and friends are well and only too happy to spoil us rotten. Keep it up thank you.
The weather was really lovely for the first few days, blue skies and lots of sunshine. However we are now getting a wee bit of the soft Irish rain this country is famous for with the countryside is so lush and green it almost hurts your eyes.



Ours days so far have been spent driving all over the country, visiting ancient relics, eating, sightseeing at castles, eating, catching up with friends, eating, and yes some more eating. Thank goodness there is lots of walking involved too otherwise we would need a whole new wardrobe. (I will certainly be adding to mine in Paris and London).

Places of interest visited so far include, Donegal, Derry City, The Giants Causway, The Belleek Pottery Factory and Glenveagh Castle which was stunning.



On Thursday we will spend the day in Portrush and then watch a practice session for the North West 200. This is a motorcycle race which takes place on the roads and streets around Coleraine/Portrush and Portstewart and is the fastest road circuit in the world. So we are expecting plenty of excitement there.


Friday morning sees us off to Dublin………………..to be continued!